CD Reviews

Guess you had to be there

YORK | ks | 10/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Seriously, everyone has a handful of albums or CDs that the whole thing just echoes or conjurs up an experience in your life and you swear the artist must have been right there and witnessed it because the song hits so close to home, and not just a song but the whole album. Well Pilgrim is one of those for me. I always have been a Clapton fan, and I had read somewhere recently it wasn't received very well so I thought I would check the old amazon reviews and try to get a feeling. I was glad to see a lot of positive reviews and more than a little taken a back at how mean the negative ones were. Back to Pilgrim. I can't explain it but this CD reaches out and touches the soul. I know that just because an album does it for one person, doesn't mean it will do it for all, but this is one of the few I think could pull it off if you give it a real chance. I can't say if its like Journeyman, or Cream or the Dominos days, I don't think that would be fair because it is so much different but still soooooooooooooooooo Clapton. This isn't full of party hard licks like Layla. But its not totally void of that either. The guitar playing is subtle yet you can't stop hearing it because it sticks. This is an album that can induce healing and peace even when the songs descibe loss. Its a journey, and that's what Pilgrims do.

Give this CD a real chance, I'll bet when you get done you are somewhere between a smile and a wince. Not about the quality of the album,that will no longer be in in dispute, but the qualiity of the things in your own life you had forgotten."

A real blues!

Jon | Minneapolis, MN | 09/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a real heartfelt blues statement, from the 90's. What the hell? Who was "blue" in the 90's. Eric Clapton was and here it is for all to hear. It is a very dark, emotional record. Clapton is letting it all out for everyone to see/hear. It is music from a man who has experienced the ultimate loss baring his soul. As someone with children, still alive and well, it is a record that is hard to listen on the level of losing what is most dear to you. It is is that bare bones. As someone who is a music lover and great fan of Clapton, it is what the blues is all about! Pouring your heart and soul into the music. A brilliant record!

A lot of people here are pissing about no great guitar playing. Listen closer. Nuance and subtlety make a great player and this record has it in spades.

From a artist who has made many brilliant musical statements, this is one of his best!"